Principal Hitchcock’s term ends in June, and she is currently being reviewed for reappointment. (Joshua Chan)
Top Story
AMS wants to oust Hitchcock
The AMS wants Principal Karen Hitchcock out, but that doesn’t make a difference to the committee reviewing her reappointment. After more than two hours of discussion and debate on Wednesday evening, AMS Assembly unanimously passed a motion stating its opposition to Hitchcock’s reappointment. There was one abstention. Hitchcock’s five-year term ends June 30, 2009.
Queen's Centre
Fix tried for Queen’s Centre
Thanks to cost overrun, the University has revised its contract with the company working on Phase One of Queen’s Centre construction. The first phase of the project is $41 million over budget. Yesterday in an e-mailed statement to the Journal, Associate Vice-Principal (Facilities) Ann Browne said the University changed its contract with PCL construction because of cost increases. Discussions on changing the contract began in December.
Queen's Centre
Wanted: $132M
Vice-Principal (Advancement) David Mitchell has a $132-million goal hanging over him—the amount the University’s expected to raise in donations towards the cost of the Queen’s Centre. It’s more than half the original budgeted cost of the $230-million centre. So far the project is $41 million over what’s budgeted, and rising construction costs mean the price tag for Phases Two and Three may go up, as well.
Feature
Commemorating Common Magic
Twenty years after cancer claimed Bronwen Wallace’s life, her cultural and political legacy lives on in Kingston. As the world gets ready for International Women’s Day this Saturday, activists, scholars, writers, residents and students are gathering for a three-day conference to meet, discuss and celebrate Wallace’s work as a Kingston writer and activist.
Story
SGPS elects new president, one vice-president
The Society for Graduate and Professional Students (SGPS) elected its executive on Feb. 28 with an 8.77 per cent voter turnout. Jeff Welsh, PhD ’09, was elected president with 87.16 per cent of the vote. Sean Tucker, PhD ’09, was elected vice-president internal (graduate) with 85.21 per cent of the vote. He could not be reached for comment.
Story
Report calls for Frosh Week checks, balances
AMS Vice-President (University Affairs) Julia Mitchell released her report on the Orientation Round Table (ORT) Feb. 28, recommending new checks for the Round Table Co-ordinator to prevent a repeat of financial and communication irregularity last year. Mitchell presented the report, which she worked on with Campus Activities Commissioner Caroline DuWors, at last week’s AMS Assembly meeting.
Story
Accessibility is costly but critical
For most students, having a 9:30 a.m. class on Monday means sleeping in until 9 a.m. and making a mad dash for the door. For Katie Charboneau, ArtSci ’11, the day begins at 7 a.m. with a wake-up call from her nurse, who helps her get out of bed and get ready in the morning. Charboneau’s quadriplegic because of a car accident she was in two years ago. She has limited grip in her arms and uses a motorized wheelchair to get around.
Rector Elections
Platform similarities prevail at rector debates
This week’s rector debates underscored similarities between the seven candidates’ platforms; most of their truncated answers to questions posed verged on identical. The seven rector candidates were limited to 30 seconds per response, giving them a chance to show how they handled themselves under pressure. All the debates centred on the vision of the rector and how he or she will handle the responsibilities and challenges associated with the job representing such a wide range of interests.
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News In Brief
Students can now scout their professors’ reputations online before signing up for classes. The AMS Academic Affairs Commission has launched a new website called whatswhat.ca where information collected through the University Survey of Student Assessment of Teaching (USAT) is posted. Students can look up results by professor, course or average score.
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Contributors of the Month
The Journal presents its contributors of the month.
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Rector election statements
The Journal provides this space free for parties on the rector election ballot. All statements are unedited.
Journal Update--March 12
Leora Jackson new rector
Leora Jackson was named Queen’s 31st rector late Tuesday night with 37.7 per cent--936 votes--in the sixth round of preferential ballotting.
